"Every single person has at least one secret
that would break your heart.
If we could just remember this
I think there would be a lot more compassion and tolerance in the world."
-Post Secret.
------

If you're not willing to risk it all, then you don't want it bad enough.

10 km timetrials today.
Gill couldn't come to training on time [bah Boom Boom Room!], so I had to go by my lonesome in a T1.
...The first few km was sheer torture. I wasn't twisting enough, so my forearms starting aching; and eventually it got to the point when I felt like giving up- my strokes weren't effective 'cause my forearms were so numb I couldn't even hold my paddle and lock the water properly, and it felt like I was doomed to an hour of being lapped and lapped again.

...But then at the 6km mark, I realized how bad I needed to fight for this.
And I told myself that I had just come for training, I had just arrived, I was fresh, I was raring to go, and I was going to push that 4 km.

So I did.

Thankyou, Cheryl, for pushing the pace with me for that last kilometre,
Thank you, Ying Jie, for encouraging and pacing with Em and I for the first few km. (Yes, I did notice you slowing down your pace a little to wait for us juniors. I appreciate that, really I do.)
Thang you Thang (:D), for coming alongside me in your K2 and telling me to keep pushing, to keep pushing.
Thank you, Heng Yang and the K2 guys for urging me on for that last charge.

It was amazing.
I grit my teeth and plunged my paddle in

again
and again
and again;

and I could hear your voices- low, urgent, intense; (never lose hope)

and it's moments like those when the light switches on again and I fall in love with this team all over again.

Monday: Canoeing training.
Tuesday: Active Rest Day. (in preparation for track nats.)
Wednesday: Track Nats!
Thursday: Canoeing training.
Friday: Canoeing training.
Saturday: Canoeing training.
Sunday: Gym! :D (with Maxy? ...Any takers? I don't really fancy going alooohne.)

Oh, and. Today, um.

Maxy: Y'know, I've got a new canoeing song.
Cara: Ooh really? *perks up* So do I. Wot's yours?
Maxy: ...Keep Moving On--
Cara: --- ZOMG really!!! *hops* MINE TOO!
Maxy: Eeep omigosh!
Cara: Omigoshhh! It's kischmit!!!
Both: :D *HUG*

...and hence, my day ends.

I need my Nature's Valley fix now. Love ya all.

(with you by my side I will fight and defend.)